Stephen Asamoah Boateng, the Deputy Minister of Tourism and Modernization of the Capital City has stated that Ghana as a country would equally not be spared the threat of global warming if stringent measures are not taken by government and all stakeholders to curb the depleting nature of the environment.

He said it would therefore be important that government as an institution of state sensitizes countrymen and women, especially vehicle owners and those in businesses indulged in mining activities and the cement industry, to be mindful of how waste is managed.

According to him, if care is not taken in the disposal of waste product, it is likely to expose the country and its inhabitants to many dangers considering its effect on society. This was contained in an address to parliament on the Kyoto accord on global warming which came into force on 16th February 2005, seven years after it was agreed by a number of countries across the world.

He noted that the harm refrigerators, especially second hand ones play in the consumption of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) deserve mentioning. This sector, according the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sources, consume as much as 98% of the total ODS consumption in Ghana.

He noted that this revelation was heart warming, considering the apt role being played by the EPA for the government to meet its strategic objective of phasing out the use of ODS, according to the ODS phase out schedule for article 5 countries under the protocol.

"It is important to remind government and the business community to check the importation of second hand refrigerators into the country," he stressed, adding that owners and importers of old vehicles must also play their part to reduce gas emissions into the environment.

According to him, whilst commending the current management of Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) for its compliance to MOT regulations, it would be beneficial to call them to liaise with the law enforcement agencies to intensify this aspect of their work to check on the pollution from vehicles into the atmosphere. This, he said was due to the ozone produced when sunlight reacts with pollutants emitted by vehicle exhaust which is also a major cause of respiratory diseases.